Chapter Five- The Rare Hunters and Kaiba Mansion
The next morning,Victoria awakened with a sigh. She looked around the room Marik had settled her in. How did I get here? This isn't home......Then she remembered. Yami Marik had abducted her. She was here because of him. She closed her eyes briefly,erasing the vile picture of him that appeared in her mind. Then there was a knock on her door. "Who is it?"
"It's Marik." The young Egyptian boy cracked the door,poking his head in. "Good morning."
"Good morning,Marik..." She smiled sleepily. "Is it time to get up?"
"As a matter of fact,I was coming to tell you that exact thing. Breakfast is about ready." He walked in,and over to her bed. "How did you sleep,my friend?"
"Not so well,I'm afraid. I'm worried about what your Yami wants."
"As we all are..." Marik smiled sadly,putting a hand on her shoulder. "No matter what happens,nothing is going to happen to you. I won't allow it."
"I already told you. You're not going to get hurt for me again." Victoria replied,serious. "I'm not five anymore."
"I know...." Marik sighed deeply. "But you are still no match for him alone." There was an akward silence during which Marik thought he knew why Victoria had become so independent. "You had to deal with him by yourself a lot back home,didn't you?"
"Of course. I couldn't ask for anyone else to do it. I think at times,he only made himself visible to me." Victoria stood up,the t-shirt she'd worn to bed dangling just above her knees. She hurried to pull it down,as she walked to the window.
"Well,you're here now,so you don't have to be alone in this. We want you to feel free to ask for anything you need." Marik told her reassuringly. "We've been thinking about you all these long years."
His young friend smiled. "And I kept wishing you'd return. But I think after a certain age,children lose that ability." She looked out the window again. "What's out there,Marik? How much like the show is it?" Her eyes swept around the kept up lawn outside the window."
Marik chuckled slightly,and came to join her at the window. "I couldn't tell you,Victoria. I've never actually seen this show of yours. Well,except for one or two scenes when we were at your house,and the hotel. Why don'y you tell me. What does it say happened after Battle City?" Even though he shuddered just thinking about the event,he was pretty sure Victoria would be eager to give him a report from her point of view.
Victoria saw Marik shudder,and knew this was not a subject he wanted to be on. "I can tell you how other duels went instead..." Before she could reply, she heard footsteps on the stairs.
"That'll be Rishid coming to make sure we're okay. I told him I was just coming up to get you." Marik went to the door. "Come down when you're ready,okay?"
"Alright." Victoria was glad to have been excused from discussing the television show farther. She feared getting carried away,and making her second family a bit uncomfortable. As Marik left,she returned to her bed,and sighed. Man! There was only one ally I had,and she's not here! Johanna would be so furious with me for not telling her Yami Marik was back again! Then a thought occured to her. Maybe Bakura's yami can summon her...I'm sure going to need her. With that in mind,she pulled her shorts on,and walked downstairs.
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Rishid smiled upon seeing their young guest enter the dining room. "Good morning."
"Hi." Victoria smiled at the eldest Ishtar,then at Ishizu. "Something smells good."
"That would be the cinnamon rolls she's baking for us." Marik told his friend. "Would you like something to drink?"
"Do you have iced tea?" Victoria remembered that this was a beverage Marik and her agreed on,and probably one of the only ones. She was a soda addict. Marik from her memory liked healthy stuff,which is what surprised her now.
"I believe so...Let me check." He got up to do so,with a smile at his siblings.
"If you don't, that's okay. I can have water." Victoria called into the kitchen,as she fingered her pill bottle nervously. I still haven't had a chance to explain the truth behind these...will they think there's really something wrong with me if I take them in their presence? She had to chance it, she decided. If she was going to go out into the city that day,she couldn't chance letting Yami Marik get control of her mind. Out came the pill bottle,before she could change her mind.
"Do you have to take those everyday?" Ishizu asked her.
"Yes. Just because I'm on vacation from my world doesn't mean I get to ignore doctor's orders." She smiled lightly,as Marik set a glass of her requested beverage down for her. She took two pills for extra measure.
"Exactly why did they put you on those,Victoria?" Marik questioned cautiously. He didn't want to pry,but he felt if she was going to be staying with them,they had a right to know what they would be dealing with from her.
"They're supposedly keeping my hallucinations away. They're quite useful in other ways too." She added,seeing the look on Marik's face. "They keep Him from taking control of my mind." Though it doesn't seem to stop him from tormenting me in other ways! She added silently,as she took another gulp of iced tea.
"I see..." Marik replied,as his sister got up to bring their cinnamon rolls out. "Maybe you won't need them so much here."
"I wish that were true,but he brought me here for a reason,Marik,and as along as that's still the case,I can't let him win." Victoria said sadly. "So,when are we going over to Mokuba's?" She was ready to move on to a happier topic.
"Whenever you're ready. Though,you might want to wear warmer clothing. It's winter here." Marik told her.
Victoria had noticed that the day before,but just barely. "I don't have anything else with me...he didn't exactly give me enough time to pack,really."
"Then we'll simply have to find you more appropriate attire. I might have a few things you can wear,if I fix it a little bit." Ishizu told her calmly,moving to go to her room upstairs. "Would you like to come try out a few things?"
"Sure." She got up,and followed the woman upstairs,leaving Marik and Rishid in the kitchen.
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Soon enough,both Victoria and Marik were ready to go. Rishid had also managed to find her one of his sister's old coats,and gave it to her to wear. "There now. You should be much warmer now." He smiled at her.
"Thank you,Rishid." She turned to Marik now. "So,how are we getting there?"
"Well...I was going to ride us over there on my motorcycle...." Her friend replied slowly. "But if you'd rather not...."
"It's not that...I've just never been on one before....." Victoria confessed sheepishly. Great. The biggest deal for any Marik fan would be to roam with him on his bike,and I'm terrified?! There are more terrifying things out there in life than a silly motorcycle!
Marik smiled kindly. "It's alright. I promise not to drive as wrecklessly as I'm sure you saw me do on that show of yours."
"Well....Okay!"
Marik chuckled at her response,and led her out to the garage,where his most prized possession was kept. He handed her a helmet,and put his on. "Just hold on to me tightly." He told her,as they both climbed on to the bike. "You'll love it,I promise."
Victoria only smiled slightly,feeling her nerves getting the better of her. She scowled at herself. Moron. It's only a motorcycle! And this is Marik we're talking about,not his yami! He won't let anything happen to you! She felt herself flinch as Marik started up the motorcycle,and her grip on him tightened a little. "I'm ready!"
"Alright." They rode out of the garage,and to the left,heading for the city district of Domino. They would have to ride through it to get to the Kaibas' neighborhood. At length,they paused at a light. "Are you alright back there,Victoria?" He called back to her over the engine's noise.
"Y-yes. So far." She smiled,having decided to see this as an adventure to tell Johanna about later. "This is fun!"
"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself." Marik smiled fondly,looking ahead. His eyes narrowed slightly,noticing a shady looking figure. "I'm so glad..." He repeated softly,as he turned a sharp corner. He kept a look out for the man,and realized that they were being tailed. "Victoria. We're going to have to stop."
"Stop? Why? Are you out of gas?" The girl sat up straighter,as Marik parked the motorcycle.
"No. Come." He helped her off the vehicle,and quickly led her away into a crowded park.
"What's going on,Marik?" Victoria turned her head to look behind them. "Rare Hunters?!" She gasped. "Are they following us?!"
"No,they're following me,but they'd do anything to harm me,and that does put you in a great amount of danger. They never quite forgave me for what I did to them." Her friend looked at her,sadly. "I will not allow any harm to come to you,Victoria. You must trust that."
"I do trust it,Marik. But why don't you tell them you're sorry?"
"I have tried. They're not a very forgiving bunch." He pulled them into into a throng of people,then pulled her in front of him,so he could keep track of her better. He wanted to lose the one that'd been pursuing them before continuing to Kaiba Estate.
"Can we go to Mokuba's now?" Victoria asked a couple minutes later.
"Let me see if we've lost our stalker." He looked around,and not seeing the cloaked man anymore,he led her back over to the bike. "Let's go." So,they both got back on the motorbike,and continued to their next destination,Kaiba Estate.
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"Marik! I was getting worried. Your sister said you left half an hour ago." Mokuba looked at his friend worriedly. "What took you so long?" He was also studying Marik's friend.
"We ran into a problem,but it's all taken care of now." Marik answered,not wanting to get into details. He motioned to Victoria,who was gawking at the expansive mansion. "This is Victoria."
"Nice to meet you." Mokuba smiled at her reaction. "It's not so big after you're here for a while." He told her.
Victoria turned her attention to Mokuba now. "Oh. Right. I guess you do get used to it after a while." She smiled nervously,and Marik put a hand on her shoulder.
"Well,what would you like to do?" Mokuba asked. "We have all kinds of things,as Marik will tell you." Mokuba was viciously curious about Marik's new friend,who had taken up his time in the last two days.
"I think I'd better call Ishizu and Rishid to let them know we've arrived safely." Mokuba nodded,and led them inside the house. He handed Marik the cordless phone in the main hall,and the boy smiled. "Thank you,friend. This won't take but a minute."
Mokuba nodded,then looked at Victoria. "So,where are you from?"
"Well...." She wasn't sure how much Marik had told Mokuba. "A long way from here." She finally decided.
"I see." Mokuba tilted his head in contemplation. "Do you like it here?"
"I do. Especially since I get to see my best friend." She smiled brightly. "Marik's awesome."
"I know that feeling. He's my best friend too." Mokuba felt a weird sensation in his stomach. Was he jealous? No way. I know Marik's got more than one friend. But I'm his best friend,and there's nothing anyone can do to change that. Even her! At that moment,a phone upstairs began to ring. Mokuba looked towards the stairs to listen. He nodded to himself,with a smile. That was his other best friend,Jonathan Roba. "I'll be right back." He excused himself to go answer the call,so that Myra wouldn't have to.
Victoria watched him go,as Marik walked in. "He had a call." She told him absently.
"Okay. I didn't tell my brother and sister about the Rare Hunter yet. I didn't want to chance Mokuba overhearing and become worried." He smiled at her reassuringly. "Don't worry so much. Nothing is going to happen to you."
"I'm not worried about me. I'm worried about you." Victoria told him. She was about to tell him about the brief,and akward conversation with Mokuba when the other boy came downstairs.
"That was Jonathan Roba. He wanted to know if I wanted go play laser tag." He told Marik. "They're on their laser tag kick again."
Marik smiled. "It seems they're always doing something with all that energy." He chuckled.
"Jonathan.....Roba? He's not related to Espa Roba,is he?"
"Yes...they're the only Robas here,aside from their other three brothers." Mokuba replied. "Do you guys want anything to drink?"
"Uh.....sure." Victoria was incredulous. "S-so...they have names?"
"Yeah......why wouldn't they?" Mokuba gave her an odd look,before heading into the kitchen.
Marik sighed deeply,then gave Victoria a warning look. I should've thought this all the way out before bringing her over here....Mokuba's going to be weirded out.
"Sorry..." Victoria said softly. "I...I wasn't thinking. See,in the show,they never actually give the other Robas names..."
"It's alright." Marik smiled weakly. "I'll explain things to him later..if you don't mind,that is."
"Well...It couldn't hurt. With you two being best friends as well,it's more than likely I'll see a lot of him while I'm here..." She stood up,and smiled. "I need some air." She headed for the front door.
"Victoria,wait! You don't know your way around here!" Marik followed her,taking her arm gently. "Maybe we should both go...."
"No. You stay with Mokuba. I'll be fine. I need some time to think." Victoria opened the door hastily. "I'll see you at home later." She ran out quickly,leaving Marik to stand there in dismay.